Fit list again to appoint DCs
18,000 officials to be recruited
The interim government, led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, is set to bring major changes in the public administration with recruitment of over 18,000 officials, transfer of many civil servants, and fresh promotion of many others.
A total of 18,149 people will be recruited through five Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations, while the government has again initiated the process of appointing new Deputy Commissioners (DCs) by preparing a fit list of qualified officials. However, promotion from deputy secretary to joint secretary and from joint secretary to additional secretary will be given again quickly.
Md. Mokhles Ur Rahman, senior secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, provided the information at a press conference at the conference room of the ministry in Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday.
He said that among the deprived officers who have been promoted and become additional secretary, those who are at the end of their service age will be given grade-1. Apart from this, a selection list (fit list) will be prepared again for the appointment of DCs. Efforts will be made to appoint new DCs from among them.
Md. Mokhles Ur Rahman said that at the same time, the process of promoting the officials of other cadres will also start as per the rules.
There are discussions about promotion without sufficient posts, the senior secretary explained. He said that many could not be given posts even after promotion, this is a separate issue. However, if batch-based promotions are stuck, it is another matter.
Explaining the promotion of deprived additional secretaries to Grade-1 posts, Md. Mokhles Ur Rahman said, “Some may have been in service for 15 days, one month or two months - all such additional secretaries will be retired with Grade-1. As a result, the disappointment of many officials will be alleviated. They will benefit socially and financially. That is why people work. The government has taken this decision before they demand it.”
The senior secretary said that those who have criminal and corruption charges and departmental cases against them will not be taken into consideration.
Regarding promotions, he said that there is no need to form a group and make new demands. They are working to ensure that the issues that have already been identified are addressed transparently and according to the rules so that those who are entitled to them get what they deserve.
According to Md. Mokhles Ur Rahman, among the 18,149 individuals for recruitment, 12,710 candidates will be recruited to cadre positions, while 5,439 will fill non-cadre roles.
The senior secretary stated that the cadre appointments will include: 2,064 from the 43rd BCS, while 1,710 from the 44th BCS, 2,309 from the 45th BCS, 3,140 from the 46th BCS, and 3,487 from the 47th BCS.
In addition, the non-cadre appointments will include: 642 from the 43rd BCS, 1,791 from the 44th BCS, 1,570 from the 45th BCS, 1,111 from the 46th BCS, and 325 from the 47th BCS.
The gazette for the 43rd BCS has been published with the joining date set for January 1. Following the gazette publication, discussions and criticisms have emerged regarding the recruitment process.
In light of this, intelligence agencies such as the NSI and DGFI are conducting additional background checks to ensure that only candidates with a clean chit are selected.
The 44th BCS oral exams were ongoing prior to August 5. Of the 11,732 candidates who passed the written exams, 3,930 had already undergone the oral test.
However, after a review by the newly formed commission, it was decided to annul the oral exams for these 3,930 candidates and instead conduct a fresh round of oral exams for all 11,732 candidates who passed the written exam, ensuring greater transparency in the process.
In the 45th BCS, a total of 12,789 candidates passed the preliminary exams. The evaluation of written exam answer sheets, initially carried out by two examiners, is nearing completion.
However, in a move to ensure transparency and fairness, the newly formed commission has decided to have all the answer sheets re-evaluated by a third examiner.
The preliminary results for the 46th BCS were announced on May 9, with 10,638 candidates selected for the written exam.
In order to eliminate potential discrepancies, the commission has now decided to revise the results, adding another 10,638 candidates, making a total of 21,276 candidates eligible for the written exam.
The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) has been notified to initiate the recruitment of 3,487 candidates through the 47th BCS exam for various cadres.
